Bills That Pass, Part 2
More changes to your life
Last week we wrote about three bills that have passed and will start affecting our lives shortly, if they haven’t already. That post is here if you missed it.
Today we’d like to look through a few more bills that make meaningful change to Tennessee law. In the interest of speed, we’re skipping the “why did it pass” section and opting instead for just informational takes on what the bills are and what they do.
HB1157 - Sponsors: Rep. Lynn and Sen. Bowling
Summary: Implements the “Restore Trust in Public Health Messaging Act”, which is designed to make sure that state and local departments of health follow FDA labeling and safety guidelines when promoting certain health measures.
Details: The bill regulates how members of the executive branch (including the department of health) promote, distribute, or endorse information regarding an FDA-regulated vaccine, mask, or emergency use authorized product. Specifically, it prohibits them from sharing or endorsing info that (a) conflicts with or doesn’t accurately reflect FDA-authorized labeling of the product, or (b) implies that safety or effectiveness has been established for co-administration of the product before adequate clinical trials needed to substantiate such claims are completed. It also authorizes the attorney general to investigate complaints about inaccurate messaging, and punish offending departments for that messaging.
HB775 - Sponsors: Chairman Powers and Leader Johnson
Summary: Allows certain lenders to charge up to 36% interest on loans over $100.
Details: Current law sets the maximum interest allowed on loans of $100-$5,000 at 30%, and loans over $5,000 at 24%. The new law allows up to 36% interest on loans of any size over $100.
HB219 - Sponsors: Rep. Reedy and Sen. Roberts
Summary: Requires foreign land-buyers in Tennessee to report their purchase to Commissioner of Agriculture.
Details: Most foreign buyers of agricultural land in the US are required to report their purchases to the US Secretary of Agriculture. This law requires that those foreign buyers also file a report with the Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture. If they fail to do so, they can be assessed a fine of up to 25% of the land’s value.
HB216 - Sponsors: Chairman Rudd and Chairman Bailey
Summary: Allows the owner of commercial property to request that the sheriff remove an unlawful occupant from their premises.
Details: The summary mostly does this bill justice. However, there are a few rules that must be followed in order to request the eviction, including: the property wasn’t open to the public when the person entered, the property owner has already asked the person to leave their property, the person is not a current or former tenant of the property, and there is no pending litigation regarding the property related to the individuals in question. Once a request is submitted by the owner of the property to the sheriff, the sheriff is required to serve notice immediately and facilitate the removal of the unauthorized person from the premises.
HB322 - Sponsors: Chairman Todd and Senator Taylor
Summary: Creates the crime of “Human Smuggling”. Human Smuggling, according to the bill, is the act of transporting known illegal migrants through Tennessee for the purposes of commercial advantage or financial gain.
Details: Current law makes “Human Trafficking” illegal, which includes things like forced labor, trafficking for commercial sex, or promoting prostitution. This bill adds two new categories of offense under “Human Smuggling” — a) transporting illegal migrants with the intent to conceal them from law enforcement when you know that they have entered the US illegally, and b) concealing or hiding illegal migrants when you know it’s a violation of federal law. These crimes are now Class A misdemeanors (or felonies if committed with a minor). Organizations (including non-profits) found to be engaging in Human Smuggling can be stopped by the state and can be involuntarily dissolved.